Paper List
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Exactly Solvable Population Model with Square-Root Growth Noise and Cell-Size Regulation
This paper addresses the fundamental gap in understanding how microscopic growth fluctuations, specifically those with size-dependent (square-root) no...
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Assessment of Simulation-based Inference Methods for Stochastic Compartmental Models
This paper addresses the core challenge of performing accurate Bayesian parameter inference for stochastic epidemic models when the likelihood functio...
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Realistic Transition Paths for Large Biomolecular Systems: A Langevin Bridge Approach
This paper addresses the core challenge of generating physically realistic and computationally efficient transition paths between distinct protein con...
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MoRSAIK: Sequence Motif Reactor Simulation, Analysis and Inference Kit in Python
This work addresses the computational bottleneck in simulating prebiotic RNA reactor dynamics by developing a Python package that tracks sequence moti...
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The BEAT-CF Causal Model: A model for guiding the design of trials and observational analyses of cystic fibrosis exacerbations
This paper addresses the critical gap in cystic fibrosis exacerbation management by providing a formal causal framework that integrates expert knowled...
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A Theoretical Framework for the Formation of Large Animal Groups: Topological Coordination, Subgroup Merging, and Velocity Inheritance
This paper addresses the core problem of how large, coordinated animal groups form in nature, challenging the classical view of gradual aggregation by...
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ANNE Apnea Paper
This paper addresses the core challenge of achieving accurate, event-level sleep apnea detection and characterization using a non-intrusive, multimoda...
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DeeDeeExperiment: Building an infrastructure for integrating and managing omics data analysis results in R/Bioconductor
This paper addresses the critical bottleneck of managing and organizing the growing volume of differential expression and functional enrichment analys...
Vessel Network Topology in Molecular Communication: Insights from Experiments and Theory
Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU)
The 30-Second View
IN SHORT: This work addresses the critical lack of experimentally validated channel models for molecular communication within complex vessel networks, which is a prerequisite for designing reliable biomedical applications.
Innovation (TL;DR)
- Methodology Proposes a novel, comprehensive channel model for molecular communication in vessel networks, incorporating advection, molecular/turbulent diffusion, and adsorption/desorption at vessel walls.
- Methodology Introduces two novel metrics—molecule delay and multi-path spread—to quantify the impact of vessel network topology on signal dispersion and the resulting signal-to-noise ratio (SNR).
- Methodology Provides the first end-to-end experimental validation of a molecular communication model in branched vessel network topologies using a dedicated SPION (superparamagnetic iron-oxide nanoparticle) testbed.
Key conclusions
- The proposed channel model, validated against experimental data from branched topologies, accurately captures key transport dynamics (advection, diffusion, sorption) in vessel networks.
- The introduced metrics (molecule delay, multi-path spread) successfully establish a quantifiable link between vessel network structure and the resulting signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) at the receiver.
- The framework enables practical applications such as optimizing sensor placement in the cardiovascular system under specific SNR constraints and guiding the design of experimental testbeds.
Abstract: The notion of synthetic molecular communication (MC) refers to the transmission of information via signaling molecules and is foreseen to enable innovative medical applications in the human cardiovascular system (CVS). Crucially, the design of such applications requires accurate and experimentally validated channel models that characterize the propagation of signaling molecules, not just in individual blood vessels, but in complex vessel networks, as prevalent in the CVS. However, experimentally validated models for MC in VNs remain scarce. To address this gap, we propose a novel channel model for MC in complex VN topologies, which captures molecular transport via advection, molecular and turbulent diffusion, as well as adsorption and desorption at the vessel walls. We specialize this model for superparamagnetic iron-oxide nanoparticles as signaling molecules by introducing a new receiver (RX) model for planar coil inductive sensors, enabling end-to-end experimental validation with a dedicated SPION testbed. Validation covers a range of channel topologies, from single-vessel topologies to branched VNs with multiple paths between transmitter (TX) and RX. Additionally, to quantify how the VN topology impacts signal quality, and inspired by multi-path propagation models in conventional wireless communications, we introduce two metrics, namely molecule delay and multi-path spread. We show that these metrics link the VN structure to molecule dispersion induced by the VN and mediately to the resulting signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) at the RX. The proposed VN structure-SNR link is validated experimentally, demonstrating that the proposed framework can support tasks such as optimal sensor placement in the CVS or the identification of suitable testbed topologies for specific SNR requirements. All experimental data are openly available on Zenodo.